Often you wonder whether the case you are about to buy performs any protective function, apart from defending the device from scratches. Because how is a less than a millimeter thick layer of plastic supposed to take the brunt of the impact and not do even more harm to the smartphone… We are talking about the MSVII brand case, which is characterized by an extremely slim design and raises doubts among many customers. This is the reason for this article, because I’m not a fan of dressing my Mi5 in a big, bulky, armored case, and MSVII seemed to me from the beginning to be a rather interesting alternative to a smartphone without a case, but scratched and scratched.
As it happens, even before the MSVII was introduced to our range, David decided to hand me one piece of this case for testing, so I have quite a long period of testing behind me. But one by one…
Appearance
There’s no denying that the MSVII is, in appearance, a very minimalist product – the entire back part is a smooth surface, with only the bottom part tastefully signed with the manufacturer’s name, its motto and country of origin.
I really like the solution for the side buttons – they are completely exposed. Admittedly, then it is an element prone to damage and such issues (I’ll talk about this later in the review), but it makes the case stand out in the market and thanks to such small details can appeal. It suits me as much as possible.
Comfort
The MSVII case is a very slim design – the manufacturer declares 0.7mm, according to my inaccurate measurements more or less true. The slimness ensures that the hand quickly gets used to the new shape and, in my opinion, the Mi5 with MSVII lies much better in the hand. This less than a millimeter is a noticeable difference in grip and comfort.
The manufacturer, too, has taken care of convenient mounting of the case on the device and three corners of the case are notched – thus preventing cracks and unnecessary stress when putting on and taking off the case.
Better grip is also provided by the rubber coating, which is simply great. The smartphone “sticks” to the hand very well (in a nice way) and not once did it slip out of my hand during use. I suspect that this coating is responsible for the popularity of this case model – I suspect that without it, my tests would have ended after a maximum of 2 hours – with a broken Mi5 and the case in the fire.
Durability and protection
Half a year of using the case is quite a long test, and I think I can duly comment on the durability of MSVII products.
The material from which the case is made is polycarbonate. It must be a good-grade material, because (except in the most exposed places) the case almost does not crack, and only indentations remain in the impact areas. In addition, the case is quite flexible, which does not matter too much in use, but very much in transit, since we have relatively few complaints about damaged MSVIIs fresh out of the package – it is known how couriers can treat our shipments….
My copies have already collected quite a show collection of scratches, but in daylight it is not noticeable. The blue piece was even involved in a not-so-soft landing on a few concrete steps (I didn’t aim the phone in my pocket in a hurry) and we can see two dents on it, but they have almost no effect on the appearance or functionality of the case. However, here one disadvantage that I also consider an advantage – the exposed button panel – is highlighted. With falls and impacts, there is simply no option that we will not scratch the frame of the smartphone in this place. It looks interesting, but unfortunately – something for something. Fortunately, for some smartphone models, the manufacturer offers a case with a covered button section – it is worth contacting our store before buying and simply ask.
Summary and price
At first I was of the opinion that I would test the product for a few days and return to the thick and clumsy (compared to the MSVII) Ringke Fusion, but the truth turned out to be different. The case performs well in daily use and, unless you are a fan of dropping your smartphone and try to take at least a little care of it, the MSVII case is worth considering. My copies have survived with me for more than six months, and even though they no longer look like fresh out of the box, I’m still impressed with the durability.
At this price, it’s hard to find a better quality case that is slim, matches the MSVII’s durability and is so comfortable for daily use. In addition, MSVII cases for most device models are sold with tempered glass, which will further enhance the protection of your smartphone.